Persons with disability (PWDs) must be treated with dignity, respect and prioritization starting from the bus stations and transportation terminals up to the moment they step out of the public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reminded operators and drivers.
This is in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr., through Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Z. Lopez, to ensure the protection of the interest and welfare of Filipino people with special needs.
Acting LTFRB Chairman Atty. Greg G. Pua, Jr. said that the courtesy and assistance is through accessibility inside the bus stations and transportation terminals, and inside the PUVs especially with strictly observing the 20% discount rule for PWDs.
“Both the accessibility and discounts for PWDs are non-negotiable. Their strict implementation is anchored and protected by laws, the same laws that provide sanctions to those who ignore or defy them,” said Acting Chairman Pua.
He said these laws are reinforced by the rules and regulations that serve as a condition in the issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience and other authority to operate PUVs and transportation services.
Acting Chairman Pua issued the reminder to all operators and drivers as millions of people are expected to go to their home provinces for the All Saints and All Souls Days, locally referred to as Undas.
He said he expects transportation companies and operators to extend the necessary assistance and honor the existing rules and regulations relating to the accessibility and discount for PWDs.
In the case of PWD accessibility under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2010-023, among the conditions set are display of international symbol of accessibility in designated seats for PWDs and for regular buses to have at least four seats for them near the entrance door.
At the stations and transportation terminals, some of the requirements for the operators are wide doors and access to comfort rooms, ramps for easy access by wheelchairs, and provision of seats to PWDs with the corresponding markings on the chairs/benches.
The penalty for the first offense is P50,000, second offense is P100,000 and the third offense is cancellation of the CPC.
For the discount rule violation, the penalty is P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 and six-month suspension of CPC for the second offense and cancellation of CPC for the third offense.
Acting Chairman Pua said that a number of operators were already issued with show cause orders and even penalized, especially during inspection of bus terminals in the past few years.
The same is true, he said, for PUVs which do not grant the 20% discount, the recent case was the incident involving a passenger bus in Pampanga.
“Let us give our PWD kababayan with what is due to them in accordance with the existing laws and rules and regulations. Let us work together to make them feel safe and the most convenient experience that we could provide for them,’ said Acting Chairman Pua.
